Container and method of making same



Sept. 5, 1933. s. E. MULLIGAN 1,925,930

CONTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Sept. 1, 1931 I F I E 5 1 E JZV/ E .L/JZ

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Patented Sept. 5, 1933 CQNTAINER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAM George E.-Mulligan, Albany, N. Y.

2 Claims.

This invention has to do with containers an method of making them.

its object is to provide a method of fashion ing containers of fabric, particularly toweling, by the practice of which a container is produced which will fill all the essential needs and which, after it has been emptied of its contents, may be readily converted to other uses, the particular illustration of conversion here shown being a towel.

It has been proposed heretofor, as shown in the patent to Baldwin, 1,693,266, November 27, 1928, to make a bag or container of toweling so that when the bag was emptied it could be ripped apart and used as a towel.

It has also been proposed, as shown in the patent to Bales, 1,611,403, December 21, 1926, to make a bag or container of cloth which could be utilized for dress goods after the contents of the bag had been removed.

My invention is an improvement on these generic ideas and has advantages not attainable under the disclosure of these patents.

In order that the invention may be clear to those skilled in the art, I have shown in the drawing herewith, and forming a part of this disclosure, one physical embodiment of my invention, and that the best now known to me.

In said drawing:

Fi ure 1 is a plan view of an unfilled container formed of two independent pieces of toweling.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 formed of a piece of toweling folded so as toprovide two face to face layers.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional View on substantially the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View on substantially the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a filled bag.

Referring to the drawing by numbers, like numbers indicating like parts in the several views, it indicates a fabric piece of which the container is made, and which as shown in Figures 1 and 3 be in two independent pieces placed face to face, or, as shown in Figures 2 and l, a single piece of fabric folded to form two face to face layers.

The layers of Figures 1 and 2 will then be 50 stitched together alon lines 11 well within the marginal edges of the layers so as to leave outstanding free edges 12, which, as will be clear from Figure 5, will be free and separable so that both sides of the fabric of which the container is made can be inspected for finish and pattern.

Preferably, the stitching 11 is chain stitching, in order that, after the container has been emptied, the chain stitching, once started, can be readily run and the layers, if the bag is made up as in Figure 1, taken apart to form two complete and finished towels, or, if folded and made up as in Figure 2, form a single finished towel. Furthermore, the stitching 11 will preferably be along lines parallel with the pattern of the goods if, as here shown, that pattern is worked out in longitudinal lines, so as not to interfere with or mar in any way the pattern effect. The bag can be closed, after filling, in any suitable manner, as for example, by the seam 13.

The advantages of this method of making containers are that they may be readily fashioned out of towellng which has been completed both as to patterning and finishing and when the contents of the container have been removed and the layers separated along their stitched lines a complete and finished towel is provided which is in no way distorted or injured as would result if, as has heretofore been the case, the fabric was inturned to form a seam or to give a lappedover portion.

Another advantage is that, following the method herein shown, an article, namely, a bag, is produced which, when utilized as a bag and filled with some commodity, the entire pattern and appearance of the towel can be observed, this pattern being displayed in its complete design on the exterior of the bag as distinguished from those constructions now known to me in which the edges of the fabric are folded inwardly and concealed from view so that the entire pattern and finish of the piece of goods cannot be determined while the bag is in folded condition.

A still further advantage and an important one is, that, without opening the bag, the pattern and the finish on both sides of the fabric or towel can be determined, for the relatively wide, open, two-ply edges 12 of the bag, as illustrated in Figure 5, permits examination of the fabric on both sides, and its design and finish can be determined. This precludes the use of fabrics which might be of superior pattern and finish exteriorly and of shoddy or inferior finish interiorly.

By the practice of my invention not only is an attractive bag or container provided which may, of course, be printed in the usual manner with wash ink markings or trade insignia identifying the goods and the maker, which wash ink printing can be readily removed from the fabric, but also it permits the presentation to the purchaser of a variety of patterns suitable for toweling or kindred purposes so that a selection can be readily made with the entire pattern displayed and, What is of very considerable importance, the fabric can be examined on both sides to determine its quality and suitability for its final use after the container has been emptied. I

While I have illustrated and described the invention by showing toweling, it will be understood that the invention may be applied to fabric pieces other than towels. For example, sets of luncheon cloths, napkins, table scarfs, bath mats and cloths, etc., can be made up so as to furnish a complete set of products of the same or'harmonizing patterns which, when the containers are emptied and converted into fabric pieces, provide a set of patterned and finished articles. Obviously, in the purchase of all such articles it is of the highest importance that the buyer be able to inspect fully and completely both sides of the. fabric for pattern, surface finish, and such work as hemming, scalloping, trimming and the like, all of which needs are met by my invention,

' I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a container comprising layers of fabric placed in face to face relation, and stitching securing said layers together along at least two edges on lines well within the marginal edges of the layers to provide a container having outstanding free layer portions of substantial width exteriorly disposed at the edges of the container, at least the major portion of the material outside the stitches inthe margins being the same as the material inside the stitches, whereby an inspection of the inner surface of the margins will constitute an inspection of the inner surface of the body portion inside the stitches.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a container comprising layers of patterned and finished fabric pieces in face to face relation, and stitching securing said pieces together along at least two edges thereof on lines symmetrical with the pattern and well within the marginal edges of the layers, to provide a container having outstanding free layer portions of substantial width exteriorly disposed at the edges of the container at least the major portion of the material outside the stitches in the margins being the same as the material inside the stitches, whereby an inspection of the inner surface of the margins will constitute an inspection of the inner surface of the body portion inside the stitches.

GEORGE E. MULLIGAN. 

